This morning Matt H and his wife, a nice couple from Mansfield, came by to look at the SMC1. He is very keen to get a jukebox and I think this one will do them well. I enjoy showing a jukebox, explaining what all I did to it and try to get the point across that I take a lot of time and pride in my work to give them a jukebox that will be trouble-free and perform well. It didn’t take them long to decide they wanted it. I have a ton of records and sat them in the living room to pick out 80 records for their new jukebox. They had a good time picking them out. While they were doing that I scanned an Installation and Operation manual into the computer and then burned it to disc for them to be able to refer to.

Records picked, we loaded the jukebox into the back of their truck. I tucked the line cord into the cabinet and then locked the mechanism down. The SMC mech has tabs on either side with a hole that, when aligned with a threaded hole on the base, let me screw it down and keep it from sliding. I have moved 99% of the jukes I’ve ever gotten or sold or delivered on their backs. Certain precautions have to be taken but contrary to the myths this is an easy way to move a jukebox with little chance of trouble. Matt cinched it down well with straps and off they went.

The Krylon Baby Blue spray paint I had ordered from Amazon arrived today. I pulled the pop meter hood off the New G mech which someone had painted a horrid red color. Years ago when I did the Old G I painted all the mech covers with Krylon Baby Blue which was a dead ringer for the stock Seeburg color. That was the go-to color for G’s then. Can’t get it anymore. I tried asking Krylon how closely the new Baby Blue would match the old Baby Blue and got a run around answer-different batches, temperature when sprayed, etc. etc. Only one way to find out so I had ordered the can. I sandblasted the hood and painted it. I like to give painted pieces an overnight “rest” before handling.

I have a 1958 Bell mono amplifier a fellow gave me rather than pay return postage. It sat for weeks until curiosity got the better of me. I pulled it out and looked it over and decided to recap it. Several tubes tested weak and were replaced. It took a couple hours to do. I tested it on the bench with the tear drop speaker for the heck of it. It’s a good powerful little amp with a lot of volume and tone. I’ll offer it to the guy who originally sent it before anything.

I pulled the mechanism out of the SMC2, tore it down and washed it. These mechansims have the least amount of parts on them and are a lot quicker to go through than any of the others. Motor out, trip coil out. Rack off, clutch out. Then using a toothbrush ( for real ) and a great cleaner called Oil Off mixed 50/50 with water I started spraying down the mechanism and parts and scrubbed with my little brush. Then a thorough rinse with the garden hose. I hang the mech upside down on two milk crates and lay everything out in the sun. This damned old August sun, as hot as it has been this summer, will have these parts dried in two days. In the winter I’ll give the mech five days to dry out.